Frequently Asked Questions about the graduate program
- Who can particpate in the graduate program?
- How long is the graduate program?
- What is a "cohort"?
- Does this graduate program require a thesis?
- Who will be my academic advisor?
- How do I apply?
- What are the admission requirements?
- Will I need to travel to Gainesville?
- What is WebCT/Vista?
- How long is each Course?
- What are the computer requirements for this program?
- How often will each course meet?
- How much does this program cost?
- Can I use my University of Florida employee fee waiver for this
program?
- I've been awarded a certificate of participation for supervising
a student intern. Can I use it for this program?
- Can I transfer in courses I've previously taken?
Who can particpate in the
graduate program? 
Individuals who are currently employed as either an agriscience teacher
or as an extension county agent are eligible to participate in this
program. Exceptions are possible for individual courses.
How long is the program?
The program will take approximately
7 semesters or about 2.5 years to complete.
What is a "cohort"?
A cohort is a group of individuals that move through a program together.
There will be approximately 20 individuals in each cohort. You will
be taking classes with these same individuals for the duration of
your degree program. This allows you to build a strong network of
support that will help you not only in your coursework, but in
your professional career as well.
Does this program require
a thesis?
No, this is a non-thesis master degree program. During the final semester,
you will take a written final exam that reflects the coursework contained
within the program. You will also develop and submit a final project.
Students will work closely with their advisor on the development
and approval of this project.
Who will be my academic advisor?
When you are admitted to the program you will be assigned an advisor.
County extension agents will be assigned to one of the department’s
extension faculty. Likewise, agriscience teachers will have one of
the agricultural education faculty as their advisor. You will be
notified of your advisor in your acceptance letter. It is important
that you contact your advisor soon after receiving notification of
your acceptance.
How do I apply?
First, complete the contact form here. We
will contact you to help you through the application process. You should
either have a current GRE score or be planning to take it soon. Begin
gathering necessary paper work like transcripts and recommendation
letters. For a complete list, go here. The
application deadline is October 1 each year. Cohorts are admitted every
spring.
What are the admission requirements?
Minimum requirements for direct admission to the program are a 3.0
GPA in the final 60 hours of undergraduate course work and a Graduate
Record Exam (GRE) score. A score of 1000 on the GRE will be most
competitive for admission. Our department also requires three letters
of recommendation and a Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose
is a letter written by the applicant to explain the reasons you would
like to enter our graduate program.
Will I need to travel to Gainesville?
Students of the e-Learning Institute are not required to travel to Gainesville,
FL at any time during their program for course related activities.
All courses are delivered via WebCT and follow an asynchronous format
(no set meeting time). All students will complete a web-based program
orientation to familiarize themselves with the course format.
What is WebCT/Vista?
WebCT ("Web Course Tools") is a course management system
which facilitates the creation of sophisticated web-based educational
environments. It does this in three ways:
- It provides an interface
allowing the design of the presentation of the course (color schemes,
layout, etc.)
- It provides a set of educational tools to facilitate
learning, communication and collaboration.
- It provides a set
of administrative tools to assist the instructor in the process
of management and continuous improvement of the course. For more
information on WebCT, visit http://lss.at.ufl.edu
How long is each Course?
Each course will be eight weeks in length. During most academic semesters
you will be enrolled in two courses. However, only one course will
be taught at a time. For example, you will take course A during the
first half of the semester and then course B during the second half.
What are the computer requirements
for this program?
Since courses in the program will be taught entirely on-line, having
reliable Internet service is critical. Students also must have reliable
access to a computer system meeting the UF requirements. The requirements
may be found at www.circa.ufl.edu/computers. All courses will require
access to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint software programs.
How often will each course
meet?
Most courses within the program will not have a set meeting time. The
courses will be broken into various lessons or modules. In most cases
you will have one week to complete the readings and assignments contained
within each lesson. The amount of time this will take varies greatly
between individuals. On average, each lesson is designed to take
5-10 hours to complete.
How much does this program
cost?
There is no out-of-state tuition for non residents. Tuition
is currently approximately $400 per credit hour. In most
cases individuals completing the program will receive increases in
salary that will recover the cost of the program within just a few
years. Tuition costs are subject to change.
Can I use my University of
Florida employee fee waiver for this program?
Yes, county extension faculty may apply the UF employee fee waiver
to courses contained within this program. Visit http://www.hr.ufl.edu/eep/eep.htm for the appropriate forms.
I've been awarded a certificate
of participation for supervising a student intern. Can I use it
for this program?
Yes, the certificate covers the matriculation portion of tuition of
up to six hours and is effective for three years. If you have received
a Certificate of Participation and want the waiver applied you must
turn in the signed original certificate to University Financial Services,
S-113 Criser Hall, PO Box 114050, Gainesville FL 32611.
Can I transfer in courses
I've previously taken?
A maximum of 9 credit hours of graduate courses from other accredited
institutions with grades of A, B+, or B, may be transferred into
an M.S. program, if approved by the Graduate School and the supervisory
committee. Petitions for transfer of credit must be made during the
first semester of enrollment in the graduate program.
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